prepaid card app

Prepaid Cards vs Debit vs Credit: Which is best for your trip abroad?

• • Smart money • 6

Why use a prepaid travel money card instead of your usual debit or credit card overseas? Prepaid cards come with features that help you to get more out of your holiday, plus you can use them in the same way as your debit and credit cards. Here we take you through 7 key areas where prepaid travel money cards, debit cards and credit cards compete to help you decide which is the best card for your next trip.   1. Keep control of what you’re spending Unlike a debit card, a prepaid card lets you keep your spending money separate […]

Discover Bulgaria

• • Explore the world • 9

Widely known as the cheapest country in Europe, Bulgaria is not only the perfect trip on a budget, but also simply, the perfect trip. With coastal towns as pretty as a picture to epic mountain ranges, Bulgaria has something for everyone. Where to first? It’s summer, so head to the coast. Sunny Beach, one of the country’s most popular beach resorts on the Black Sea will give you pretty beaches in spades and a three-course meal for two, with wine, for around £20 – what’s not to love? What’s more, approximately a third of Bulgaria’s 378km Black Sea coast is […]

California, USA travel guide ??

• • Explore the world • 9

Monterey Monterey County should be at the top of everyone’s Californian experience especially if you are considering a fly-drive road trip. Wind your way along the breath-taking Big Sur coastline on Highway 1 taking in the rocky cliffs and incredible mountains. Once you’re ready to take a pit-stop, book yourself an ocean view hotel room on the beach, and explore the shops of iconic Cannery Row (once the centre of a prosperous sardine-packing industry). Here you’ll find gift shops, restaurants and bars, all set up in a trendy fashion filling converted factory buildings. Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must-see if […]

Thailand travel guide ??

• • Explore the world • 7

Home to film-worthy beaches, awe-inspiring temples, mouth-watering street food, and a vibrant cultural heritage, Thailand has something for everyone whether young or old, intrepid or reserved. Whether you want to come here to explore more of its rich cultural heritage, or simply to enjoy one of their many beaches and nightly parties, you won’t leave disappointed. Buriram province The Buriram province is a primarily rural area in Northern Thailand where most locals earn a living from farming. Due to the areas slower pace it hasn’t traditionally been a large tourist attraction, but to many travellers that’s what’s making it so […]

How to get a business flight upgrade

• • Travelling for business • 4

Which frequent flyer doesn’t dream of getting upgraded to business class or even, whisper it, first? It’s just a step through the curtain, but a world away, where the passengers all seem to be a little bit more successful, or at least more relaxed and pampered. There are, thankfully, a few steps you can take to increase your chances of pulling off the hallowed upgrade and wallow in the luxury of a flat bed. Start with the basics We put a shout-out on Twitter to find out how our followers have wangled an upgrade. For @andyeganuk, the answer is quite […]

Making the most of it: Madrid for the Champions League final ??

• • Explore the world • 10

If you’re lucky enough to bag a ticket for the Champions League final in Madrid, then you’re in for a treat. Not only is the match one of the highlights of the sporting calendar, but it also gives you an excuse to spend some time in Spain’s energetic and culture-packed capital. Even if you haven’t wangled a spot at the Metropolitano stadium on 1st June, find another excuse to visit the city, whether or not you follow the beautiful game. And put some of these highlights on your itinerary. Tour the stadiums Whether or not you’ve got a ticket for […]

group meal

My employee is overspending on business travel. What can I do?

• • Travelling for business • 3

It’s not uncommon for employees to overspend on expenses when they go away for business. This might be down to confusion about what expenses your company allows, a simple mistake or they may have a valid business reason for spending that little bit more, either way you probably want to get a grip of business travel overspend. A survey of UK employees last year found that those who submit work expenses or have access to an expenses account, spend an average of £117 per month on unauthorised and inflated purchases. Some cases of over-spending are one-offs. But some employees may […]

Four hours in Barcelona: tips for time-starved travellers ??

• • Explore the world • 8

You’re in Barcelona but only have half a day, or perhaps just four measly hours, to spare in the Catalan capital. So, what do you do? It’s a tough call. Spain’s second city is after all one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. Here are just a few suggestions for things to do and see if time is short. Camp Nou We put a shout out on our Facebook page for suggestions of what to do in Barcelona and the answer was emphatic: visit Camp Nou. Home to FC Barcelona, more commonly known as Barça, since 1957, Camp Nou is […]

Four hours in Hong Kong: tips for time-starved travellers ??

• • Explore the world • 6

It’s been described as the gateway to China, a melting pot of cultures where east meets west, or perhaps less gracefully, ‘stopover city’. Hong Kong is after all a regular feature on long-haul flyers’ itineraries. And its status as the ideal stop-over is helped by the Airport Express train which whizzes you from the airport to the city centre in just 24 minutes. So if that’s you, in Hong Kong for just a layover between flights, or on a business trip with an afternoon spare, we’ve got some tips on how to make the most of your time. Aberdeen We […]

5 common and costly travel policy mistakes to avoid

• • Travelling for business • 1

Stressed and frustrated employees, overspending on expenses and even expenses fraud. These are all risks you face if you don’t get your company travel policy right. Without a carefully-honed policy, your employees won’t know how much to spend on what, nor to use any travel providers you might favour. Ultimately, it’ll be harder to plan your business budgets if you don’t control how much people are spending. On the other hand, a clear, up-to-date and well-structured policy – that everyone in the business knows about – will help your bottom-line. And remember, business travel is already complicated and stressful enough, […]

Four hours in New York: tips for time-starved travellers ??

• • Explore the world • 6

Let’s say you have a stopover in New York. Perhaps you’ll have an afternoon or so to spare, after allowing for the time it takes to get to and from downtown Manhattan from JFK. What do you do with that precious time? Here are some suggestions, helped by some recommendations from our community on Facebook. Central Park The huge, beautiful and free Central Park has so much to offer. Find maps here which include running and bike routes, self-guided walking tours – including a mile-long walk for each month of the year – and woodland tours. You can also go […]

Top apps for business travellers

• • Travelling for business • 1

The joy of discovering a good app! It might be because it saves you money, entertains you or just makes life that little bit easier. If you have to travel regularly for business, it certainly helps to download a few choice apps and here are some that regular travellers swear by: LinkedIn: for checking out who you’re meeting Amanda Thomson, founder and chief executive of prosecco and champagne producer Thomson and Scott, says: “I always use LinkedIn as it’s used by the business community across the globe and means I can easily research those I’m set to meet prior to […]